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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Scandinavian Stitches...You're Gonna Love This!

I can't even say how thrilled I am to introduce Scandinavian Stitches to you. Kajsa Wikman's book is brought to you by Stash Books and this book has it all, great projects, beautiful, inspiring pictures, a bit of whimsy and Kajsa's voice and style. I've admired Kajsa and her art for years and I'm so proud and happy that through this book she has the opportunity to spread her artistic vision and happy voice to a new audience.The book and projects are organized around the seasons in Finland and how they inspire Kajsa's work.Kajsa shares the inspirations for her designs and at the same time inspires us. I've always loved her signature birds and I'm so happy they are part of the book.There are quilts to make.......and smaller projects. Look closely at that basket...do you see the nest? The details in the designs are extraordinary.And then there are the tomte. I happen to have some made by Kajsa. In Finland they're like Christmas elves, but Algot, Lars, and Olaf make wonderful sentries to guard my sewing machine! I've always wanted to make them myself and now I can! The book has so many great projects for the holidays and gift giving!Kajsa graciously answered some last minute questions from me so we all could get to know her a little better.

Tell us a little about Finland that we wouldn't read in our geography books. Is there a Finnish word or two that you think we should all learn?

Well, the most important thing to know must be that there are no icebears here, only wolves; and that we have moose warning signs along the roads. Visitors from abroad usually find that very exotic. I belong to a Swedish speaking minority in Finland (6% of the population). Finland used to be a part of Sweden and then Russia, but has been independent since 1917. Women got the right to vote in 1906 and we have a female president today, a lovely lady named Tarja Halonen. The Sauna is Finnish, so is Nokia, the mobile phones. Finland has a lot of lakes and forests where you can pick wild berries and mushrooms. Many people have a summerhouse by a lake or by the sea.

Sisu (perseverance) is a useful Finnish word that is usually used to describe Finns. So you need a lot of sisu to write a book! Ruska is another useful word. It means the beautiful autumn colors in nature. The ruska is especially beautiful up north in Lapland (where Santa lives) and many tourists travel to experience this every autumn, and even more people fly in to see Santa in December.

Favorite author: Tove Jansson

Finnish design icons: Alvar Aalto, Marimekko, Littala

You describe art for you as "playful and happy." What advice would you give other quilters to help them find their inner artist?

1. Allow yourself to be you!

2. Give it time!

It takes time to develop a style of your own and all artists explore different techniques and styles before they find their own (stitched) path! I used to think that art had to be serious and deep, although I am quite happy and have an optimistic nature. When my daughter was born I felt free to be childish in my expression and allowed myself to dig into my favorite picture books to get inspired. First I used a more muted country palette, but the braver I got the more colour I dared to use! The on-line community of crafters and quilters has been very valuable to me, especially all the positive feedback I got on flickr when I first started posting pictures of my projects. I was encouraged and inspired to go on developing my style.

How much time do you spend sewing every day? How do you balance work and family life?

I try to get all work and sewing done while my daughter is at school and my son at Kindergarten and spend the evenings and weekends with the family. Sewing used to be a hobby, but now I can do it during working hours. How cool is that! This time of year I always end up sewing on the couch late at night, though, but I love my work so much. I can honestly say that I love my work every day!

Kajsa and Stash books are giving away a copy of Scandinavian Stitches and a set of Kajsa's holiday cards to one lucky reader. Leave a comment and tell me what's inspiring you this holiday season. Comments will close Friday morning at 8 a.m. central time. I'll announce the winner on Friday. Good luck!

I wouldn't risk not winning. I'd simply order this book right away. I'm going to snag an autographed copy from Kajsa's etsy store! Thank you, my friend for your inspiration! I wish you happiness and success!

Be sure to continue on the tour for more chances to add this book to your crafty library.

210 comments:

AHA! first commenter - gotta love living on the west coast when all you centralians and easterners have gone to bed, I get to be first on the 'tomorrow' posts! Don't be jealous, comment #1, like, never wins. Love Kajsa's work, love the book, thanks Jacquie for that fun interview!

ooohh, me too--Alaska time :). I am thinking of the holiday comfort foods to inspire me. I also love the art of gift giving during the holidays. I'm a newbie sewer but love that you can do so much with the beautiful fabrics!browntimes3@yahoo.com

I love all the inspiration found on these great blogs . . . like yours. This is the first year I've had all these ideas at my fingertips and I think I have 10 years worth of ideas I'd love to do before Christmas.

My son is always an inspiration to me, he has some really great creative ideas and I´m really astonished of it. Also looking at all those gorgeous blogs out there is really inspiring. I love Kajsa´s style and would love to win a copy of her adorable book!

blog hopping to see what others are up to, and seeing books like this inspire me. I have decided to make lots of hand made present this year, so I am quite busy nowadays, but still keep looking for new ideas :-)Kristina

Trying to recyle what I have around me is fuelling my crafting for our home this winter. But blogs and Flickr have an input too. I love the little snowy village scenes that people have made from paper and fabric. I've made my own version using empty cotton reels and fabrics. Cute!I can't wait to read Kajsa's book for even more ideas though. Fingers crossed :o)

this book is on my wish list for Christmas, i'm trying to find inspiration to make my children an advent calendar - i'm thinking maybe small knitted socks strung up, each with a little treat in - better get knitting!Kellyx

My inspiration comes from all the talented crafty bloggers out there and, of course, my little girl. Thanks for the chance to win this gorgeous looking book - it's definitely one for my Christmas list!

This sounds like such a lovely book. At the moment I'm finding the changing colours of the ocean very inspiring. As we enter into the southern summer it's beach time with sun and sand and sea and lots of lovely outdoor eating...

Love the book, Kajsa work is so inspiring!My inspiration comes from what others create and write about. Just the other day someone posted this beautiful picture of a red-orange leaf online and I really want to make a quilt in those colours now!

Sorry, it's me again, this time with my name.In the spur of the moment, I would say, sitting in a cozy coffee bar, having a hot chocolate and "reading" magazines like marie claire idees. very cute book, looks like a must to have!

I'm one of THOSE people who love dreary, dark days and this time of year gets my adrenaline going. I love being inside all cozy and sewing or baking with no pressure to go outside and "do something." Fall and winter are my creative times.

I just ordered Kaisa's book for the library where I work! So excited to see it! I'm inspired by all the lovely books I order and catalog for the library, by loved ones I stitch for, and by all of you in blogland! Thanks ever so much!

I'm inspired by the many great blogs I read, beautiful fabric inspires me too and for the upcoming holiday season our new house is my inspiration. So many great ideas I got to decorate. All I need is a big bag of money to buy new supplies to make all the things I want :)

I'm trying to get inspiration from my Christmas fabric stash this year. I have a bin with Christmas fabrics and there are some in there that I love. I'm trying to only use those this year and so far so good.

First off, those are adorable Christmas elves. I am inspired by all the wonderful new fabrics highlighted at Houston Quilt Market. Enjoyed all the pictures shared by the attendees! Thanks for the chance.

This year I'm inspired by trying to make this world a better place for my son. So I'm making more gifts this year as well as trying to re-purpose things. And those little tomte remind me of the elves that I'd see in Germany as a child. :) I would LOVE to have those around my tree. :)

We're off to a huge family holiday party this year and everyone's expected to bring a small gift for each child. I've started early this year and plan on only homemade stuff! I have so many materials lying around my home, the party has finally inspired me to use them!

My inspiration this season is coming from the fabric themselves! I am loving all the prints that are coming out and they are just begging to be cut into and sewn together! I am merely following their wishes!

I think my inspiration this year is coming from me reading all the excellent tutorials I am finding in so many wonderful blogs. I am having a hard time deciding which ones to do which is such a horrible problem for us all right? NO! We can just do them all. LOL

I just love what I have seen of Kajsa's book and I'm totally in love with her little fox. Just adorable.

I think Kajsa hit the nail on the head when she said, "I felt free to be childish in my expression." How soon we all grow up and live out others' expectations of what is and what is not acceptable. Like perfect seams and piecing. gah! I'm still deciding if it's me or my first quilting lesson...

i, too, draw most of my inspiration from blogs and flickr photos. sometimes the little things in life are inspiring too! thanks for the giveaway, really been enjoying the blog tour and the book looks amazing!!

I am so excited about this book! Little red-hatted gnomes are inspiring me this season! I want to make tons of them to sit on windowsills, peek out of stockings, and fill my pocket advent calendars. Thank you for interviewing Kajsa and blogging about her book. Her colors and projects are so happy! Love it!

This looks lovely. My crafting has been inspired by lots of beautiful handmade gifts on blogs, and I've been holding some of the insights from Hundred-Dollar Holiday close to my heart. Thanks for everything. If I win you can reach me at tthorme at yahoo dot com.

I am inspired by all of the fall colors right now that we still amazingly have here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. So many reds, oranges, and golds on the trees in my neighborhood, along with the still green grassy fields and fluffy white sheep...they have inspired me to begin designing a fall quilt.

I just love her style! What's inspiring me this holiday season is not commiting to making gifts for everyone, so I can make what I enjoy not what I feel like I have to and also take time to enjoy the holidays.

What great ideas! My inspiration for the Christmas season has been the carol "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." I am currently working on a large wall quilt with a tree in the shape of a cross for my church's advent decorations. I love trees!

Smells are always inspirational, although difficult to replicate in craft! This christmas there's the smell of the christmas pudding which i've steamed, the christmas meal, the spiced fruit, the wrapping paper and wraps of the chocolates... a sensory feast!

First of all, I love Kajsa's work and would dearly love to win a copy of this book. BTW, the word sauna is always mispronounced in English. The correct pronunciation is sow'na (sow, as in the pig and the accent is always on the first syllable.)Finding out that I will be a first time grandmother is inspiring me this Christmas. The little child in me in coming out with all the excitement.

I am so in love with the use of crisp white with bright, vibrant hues of red and green apple. I just want to sew all day long with this combination. thank you for the chance to win a copy of this inspiring book!

I have a hard time getting inspired for Christmas, probably because Christmas in Hawaii is just another sunny day in paradise. Some cute projects in this book could maybe get me inspired-love the tomte!

The excitement from my inlaws is what's driving me this year. I'm making my mil and gmil each a quilt and I'm pumped because over this last year they've seen me create more and more and have a bit of success with my Etsy shop - they're finally coming around to handmade!

Inspiration this season.. well for me, the season would be Christmas and I am finding that this year I am trying to make other peoples Christmas special. Where can I volunteer or what can I donate so that someone else has a meaningful day

Well, I'm always amazed how talented crafters are able both to excel in their craft endeavors AND at the same time share their inspiration with me via blogs, photos, free patterns and ideas, and this incredible book! While I am blessed as a craftsman---rarely can I invent or create something entirely my own! Thanks for your inspiration!

Just have some quiet time this holiday season is inspiring me - to enjoy friends and family. Can't wait to bust out my Christmas stuff this weekend. Particularly all the decorations my daughter has made over the years, save them all.

I am being inspired by my two little girls. They are getting to the age where they will start having memories of these things. I want them to remember this season as a time of great excitement, but also of peace.

With every stop on the blog tour, this book is looking more and more fun!

This holiday season I'm feeling inspired by flickr, more than usual even, because I've been involved in so many swaps this fall and have found so many wonderful new photostreams. I loved seeing that Kajsa calls the site an inspiration as well.

This year I seem to have hit a block. every year I make something homemade for my 5 brothers and 2 sisters and their children (usually knitted and cookies) but this year the yule mojo has disserted me. maybe this book would have fresh ideas to bring back my mojo

My daughter is always inspiring me. She's now over 2 years old and it seems that I just have to make an advent calendar this year. I though that this year it will be not necessary, but lately I found out that it would be great adventure for her:)

I'm actually inspired this season to get back to what was intended - time with family - meals with friends - simplicity - slowing down and not rushing. i'm loving the simplicity of the artwork in this book - love the ideas.

So many things are inspiring me right now. I'd have to say that the biggest inspiration is nature. It is ever-changing and glorious in each season. I cherish autumn and try to look at other's pictures online, since I live in sunny Florida. No changing leaves and snow here!

Awesome book! I am totally inspired this season by buildings and light! Lots of natural light hitting buildings and how different everything looks in various shades. I want to do some inspired quilts as soon as I finish up some birthday gifts. Congrats on the book, Kajsa! Best,Cristina

I love the bright pops of color against the stark white! Beautiful! This year I'm being inspired to use what I already have-buckets of scraps and repurposing old clothes- instead of buying new fabric for every project.

I went to Denmark a couple of years ago and picked up two beautiful elves that my kids are dying to play with but they were too expensive to let them. I totally need this book so I can make some personalized elves.

I had the opportunity to peek inside this book at my local Bernina store. It is now on my Christmas wishlist! There was a quilt back in there that I simply cannot wait to try! My family is moving to Utah next year and so this Holiday season I am finding myself giving my attention to by all my local traditions and the Midwest change of seasons.

Panic is my inspiration this year. We have just got back from a 2 week holiday and I can't believe how little time there is. I have to have presents done early for my hubbys family so am slightly freaking out.

What inspires me this holiday season is red cross-stitch. I don't know why, but I keep being attracted to red designs and I have a list about a mile long of those I would like to make before Christmas... not going to happen though!

I find the whole Handmade Holiday activities very inspiring. I love the blogs, the discussions, the etsy stores, and the local gift shops popping up selling handmade. Less impersonal plastic junk, more creativity and repurposing. And I love to make stuff too!

I too have been feeling very inspired by the online crafting community lately, but I also have to say that my family is what drives my inspiration to actual creation.. the boy needs slippers! the girl needs a mermaid!

I intend to put this book on my xmas wish list for Santa -- but if I'm lucky enough to win the draw, santa can buy me some fabric for those projects!

I'm getting inspiration from my grandmother's sensibilities. Child of the Depression, she learned to make beautiful things out of humble materials. I made my first quilt this summer after finding a fabric that reminded me of one of her old housecoats.

What an inspirational book! Thanks for the interview. It's always fun to read how Kajsa got involved with her crafts. My inspiration are the colors and patterns of the season. Then my mind goes crazy with ideas!

Lucky for me, my stash is inspiring me right now! Perfect! As I plan to use some up making little Christmas gifts for my nieces. Still stumped on what to make my nephew! Love this book!! Thanks for the chance. Really enjoyed the interview!

Her work is so much fun. What a fun book. Thank you for the give away. As far as inspiration...right now it is from blogs. I love what everybody else is making. Then I give it my own spin and come up with something new.

Thanksgiving through the New Year is the duration of our holiday. We seem to get lost in a theme of family, food, friends, family, food, friends... This season I'm inspired by 'love one another'. The simple or not so simple gesture to reach out to another with an open heart and share care and a kind word. (My lunch dates have tripled!) It's working. :)

I live in Hawaii where it's hard to get inspired about the winter holidays, so this year I am going to force the subject by remembering (and pulling inspiration from) all teh Christmases we spent in Germany.

My family is my inspiration. They are so happy and thankful in all things. I am working hard to make a handmade gift for each one of them. I look to tutorials online for ideas as well as some trusted books. This book looks like a lot of fun.

This book is so great. My inspiration this christmas season is to go back to older times when things were simpler..that is why once again i'll be making all the christmas gifts this year and hopefully inspiring my kids to make some too.

Family and simplicity are my inspiration. I am learning to keep it simple, cut myself some slack, and enjoy the moment. Time to lighten up!! Cherish the people you love and find time to do something you enjoy each day.

My modern quilt guild is inspiring me! I have enjoyed being part of the Austin Modern Quilt Guild for the last 8 months. I haven't had as much time to sew as I'd like (working full time, grad school, moving), but every month I get together with very crafty and fun women!

I have a 16 month old son and have been spending the last few weeks [ok, months] thinking about all the things I want to do to make his holidays [and ours] special. The felt advent calendar I saw on a blog, the cool frog on the purl bee blog, a new flannel crib quilt, cozy meals, extra stories at bedtime... Its so exciting to start new holiday traditions with your kids - even if he's a little young to remember all of it!

This season, I am soo inspired by all of the bright colors that are being used in decor and crafting, as well as the whimsical looks that are sprouting up all over. Imagine how excited I am to find this post! I can't wait to pick up a copy, every project that you posted here is absolutely inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing!

Recently I've been teaching a friend to sew and her enthusiasm for it is inspiring me to sew more as well. It's nice to see this craft through her eyes - everything is "new" again and it's been delightful!

Love Kajsa's work and would love to win this wonderful book. Looking at my small stash of fabrics and felt I get inspired to make many different things. Right now since Christmas is getting near I'm making ornaments for the tree and small gifts.Thanks for the chance!ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

This has been my first year discovering blogland and finally the last few months making a blog of my own... I have been so overwhelmed this year by all the amazing handmade crafts and creativity of people out there...and Christmas is a perfect time to make some handmade projects for the ones you love xxx gorgeous book xx

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welcome to tallgrass prairie studio

i am a mom of two young men and wife to my fabulous, supportive hubby. i love modern quilts and doing my own thing. feel free to look around and check out my work. questions? drop me an email at jgeringirre at yahoo dot com or leave a comment.
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